Effect of lunar phase on frequency of psychogenic nonepileptic events in the EMU

• Published in: Epilepsy & behavior Vol. 59; pp. 62 - 63
• Main Authors: Bolen, Robert D, Campbell, Zeke, Dennis, William A, Koontz, Elizabeth H, Pritchard, Paul B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.06.2016
• Subjects: Adult; Female; Hospital Units; Humans; Lunar phase; Male; Monitoring, Physiologic; Moon; Neurology; Psychogenic nonepileptic events; Retrospective Studies; Seizures - psychology; Somatoform Disorders - psychology; Lunar phase; Psychogenic nonepileptic events
• ISSN: 1525-5050; 1525-5069
• DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2016.03.017

Abstract Introduction Studies of the effect of a full moon on seizures have yielded mixed results, despite a continuing prevailing belief regarding the association of lunar phase with human behavior. The potential effect of a full moon on psychogenic nonepileptic events has not been as well studied, despite what anecdotal accounts from most epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) staff would suggest. Methods We obtained the dates and times of all events from patients diagnosed with psychogenic nonepileptic events discharged from our EMU over a two-year period. The events were then plotted on a 29.5-day lunar calendar. Events were also broken down into lunar quarters for statistical analysis. Results We found a statistically significant increase in psychogenic nonepileptic events during the new moon quarter in our EMU during our studied timeframe. Conclusion Our results are not concordant with the results of a similarly designed past study, raising the possibility that psychogenic nonepileptic events are not influenced by lunar phase.